House Bill 774

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 69-5-1, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO ADD THE DEAN AND DIRECTOR OF THE ALCORN STATE UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF AGRICULTURE AND APPLIED SCIENCES TO THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE MISSISSIPPI FAIR ADVISORY COUNCIL; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. Section 69-5-1, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

69-5-1. (1) The Mississippi Fair Commission is hereby abolished, and all of the powers, duties, property, contractual rights and obligations and unexpended funds of that commission shall be transferred to the Department of Agriculture and Commerce on July 1, 2020. Wherever the term "Mississippi Fair Commission" appears in any law or regulation, the same shall mean the Department of Agriculture and Commerce. The transfer of personnel shall be commensurate with the number and classification of positions allocated to the commission.

(2) In order to promote agricultural and industrial development in Mississippi and to encourage the farmers to grow better livestock and agricultural products, there is hereby created an advisory council to be hereafter known as the "Mississippi Fair Advisory Council." The department shall receive input and guidance from the advisory council, which shall be composed of the following: The Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce, chairman, the Director of the Mississippi State University Extension Service, the Dean and Director of the Alcorn State University School of Agriculture and Applied Sciences, President of the Mississippi Livestock Association, the Director of Mississippi Vocational Education, the Director of the Mississippi Development Authority, the Mayor of the City of Jackson, Mississippi, and an appointee of the Governor, all to serve without salary compensation.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2021.